Table of contents for 31 July 2024 in MCN

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE owners in the UK are being told to stop riding them immediately if they still have the original set of tyres fitted. A defect with the Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour OE rear tyre means that a recall has been issued, potentially affecting 304 bikes in the UK. “Customer safety and satisfaction is Suzuki GB's utmost priority,” a statement from the importer read. “Owners of affected units will be contacted from today and directed to cease riding activity until replacement tyres have been fitted by an authorised Suzuki dealership.” If you own a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and you've already replaced the tyres, Suzuki say they will reimburse you for the cost of the tyres and the fitting. The recall has also meant pausing any new registrations while the issue…

Royal Enfield have a new Summer Reward promotion on some of their best-selling models. Up to £650 can be redeemed against sales of the 650cc twins (with the exception of the Shotgun) and £350 is yours against the 350cc Bullet, HNTR and Meteor models. You can use the contribution against lower finance, increased part-ex, genuine accessories, or apparel. The special offer runs until September 10. MCN needs you! Fancy a new job? MCN is after a new Deputy Editor, and it could well be you. This position plays a pivotal role in the planning, creation and delivery of news, reviews, road tests and more, with prospective candidates expected to represent MCN at events, as well as writing and delivering engaging content. Go to jobs.bauermedia.com to apply. Applications close on August…

A police exercise using an unmarked HGV detected nearly 90 driving offences when deployed on roads in Northamptonshire in June. Police were taking part in four days of action in support of National Highways’ Operation Tramline which aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. Officers from Northants used an unmarked HGV to patrol four of the county's major trunk roads – the A14, A43, A45 and the M1. ‘In total, 77 vehicles were stopped’ During the four days 1036 vehicles were filmed and drivers seen committing offences were pulled over by a police car following behind. In total, 77 vehicles were stopped, 89 offences were detected with more than half of those not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone or driving without care and attention. Fixed penalty notices for…

Fancy a new bike for 2024? We're giving you the chance to win a brand-new Yamaha MT-09, a model which benefits form a raft of updates for this year. To be in with a chance of winning, you simply have to tick the box when getting an insurance quote with us. It really is that simple. No questions, no payment, no tricks – get an insurance quote, tick the box, and cross all your fingers and toes (not while riding) that you're the lucky winner. It's one of the best nakeds you can buy MCN's Carl Stevens rode the new MT-09 at its world launch earlier in the year, and to whet your appetite, this is what he had to say about the bike… “Yamaha have been back to the…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 9am-4pm • Darley Moor Circuit, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2ET Darley Moor has been entertaining bike race fans for more than 60 years, and in that time the 1.5-mile circuit nestled in the Derbyshire Dales has played host to all kinds of highoctane action including British Historic Racing, the Stars at Darley meeting and even dog agility. Although there's always been a café of sorts open for race days, Darley's owners spotted that there was an opportunity to be had every weekend of the year, and when Sam and Craig Francis heard about this, they brokered a deal, and now are running the café themselves. “We were given this opportunity just…

What's happening? Dubbed ‘the most chilled rally you'll attend’ the Yorkshire Pudding Rally has music all weekend on two separate stages along with comedy acts, ride-in custom show and plenty of beer, cider and real ales. There'll be trade stalls aplenty, and since there are brags about clean showers and toilets, you'll be camping in comfort, too. The essentials Held at Escrick Park Estate near York (YO19 6EA) the rally runs from Friday until Sunday. For a weekend ticket, it's £35 (with £2.50 admin charge) and there won't be tickets on the door. If you only want to pop over for the Saturday, it's £25 and kids under 15 can come along for free. Tickets always sell out, so get in quick! mapevents.co.uk…

FIRST RIDE CFMoto were just another barelyrecognised brand from China a few years ago, but thanks to some impressive machinery and their successful link up with the Pierer Mobility Group, they're beginning to establish some serious cred. And for good reason too; not only are they creating better machinery with every passing year, but the dealer network and spare parts availability is growing too. The new 450SR S is the second generation of their parallel-twin A2 sportsbike, and promises to be a step-up from the slightly lower spec 450SR with higher grade forks, a single-sided swingarm and a few other tweaks. 1 It means business The 450SR S is a genuinely capable sportsbike – not only does it offer a decent amount of feedback and stability through the light chassis…

Get ready to live the dream The Western United States is seriously impressive and a must for any motorcycle rider. Whether you want to ride a Harley-Davidson on long asphalt straights crossing the continent or go into the back country on an adventure bike, there's something for everyone – and it's all simply stunning. Our favourite roads The Beartooth Highway Our alltime favourite route in the USA. In fact, it's one of our favourite asphalt routes of all time! It's a beautiful stretch of road from Cooke City, Wyoming to Red Lodge, Montana along the 212. The route is just under 70 miles long and takes you up to 10,500 feet. It's only accessible from May to September and covered in snow for the rest of the year. Lolo Pass…

4937 miles ON TEST Rev'It! Cassini H2O Ladies gloves £89.99 Waterproof summer gloves can be tricky to find, but for those of us that live in the UK, the combination is somewhat of a must-have for our ever-changing weather. These Rev'It! Cassini gloves tick all the boxes, keeping my hands dry in summer showers during the near-5000 miles spent wearing them, and despite their many hours gripping the handlebars, the stitching is still perfect, the Velcro still neat, and they barely look worn. Overall, £89.99 is a fair bit of money to spend on a pair of summer gloves, yet despite their minimalist looks, they are Level 1 certified with armour in the knuckles, are comfortable to ride in, the touchscreen fingertips work, and the subtle design means they'll pair…

Held Sambia 2-in-1 £176.95 Even after more than a year of regular use these short gloves are showing little sign of wear and are still my go-to option for most fair-weather trips. That's not to say I don't wear them when it's raining, as the Gore-Tex inner has kept my hands dry in all but the most torrential of conditions. The workmanship is second to none and that goes a long way to justifying the price, as does the use of quality materials – thick, but supple, perforated leather on the palms, stretch panels and CE 1 KP knuckle armour. Quality Value shop.held.de 6100 miles ON TEST…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO Nakeds are always popular but not everyone wants a full-on super-naked. So how about a cool-looking ride with a bit of soul thanks to a thumping V-twin engine? The good old V-twin is something of a rare beast nowadays. Well, in new bike showrooms anyway. But dip into the used market and there are plenty of options. From the sporty Monster to the wayward but legendary TL1000S via the stylish MT-01, quirky (and fairly challenging to own) Buells. Here are a few of our favourites… YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used bike guru. He has owned a Tuono Racing and tested the MT-01 in South Africa – managing to miss seeing a pod of whales during the ride, which still annoys him……

£2000-£4000 (2003-2008) Suzuki played it safe and while the SV has a TL-derived V-twin, it's nowhere near as feisty. Built to a budget and aiming to entice owners of the popular SV650 to upgrade, the SV1000 never really took off due to its rather poor finish and disappointing level of spec. The SV is one of those bikes that benefits from basic upgrades (suspension, brakes, tyres, exhaust, bars). BUYER BEWARE ● The V-twin is smooth, so be wary of any overly lumpy-feeling bikes. Often it is the throttle bodies that need balancing but it could be a cam position sensor, and that's about £250 to remedy. ● Give the radiator a proper inspection as it has a reputation for corroding and leaking. A new unit costs £716 from Suzuki with…

TICKET INFO Friday general admission £35 rising to £50 on the weekend ● Access to general admission areas, entertainment zones and concerts ● Rove into grandstands: Abbey B, Club Corners, Hamilton A, International Paddock Luffield ● Under-11s free (still require a ticket) Saturday general admission £55 rising to £70 on the weekend ● General admission viewing areas, entertainment zones and concerts ● Grandstands: Abbey A, Hamilton B, Vale, Village A. ● Under-11s free (still require a ticket) Saturday general admission + £65 rising to £80 on the weekend ● General admission viewing areas, entertainment zones and concerts ● Covered grandstands: Becketts, Woodcote A. Plus open air stands: Abbey A, Hamilton B, Vale, Village A. ● Under-2s free (still require a ticket) Sunday general admission £95 rising to £110 on the…

Roads journalist and photographer writes for MCN TOP STORY Double Isle of Man TT 2024 winner Davey Todd became the new ‘King of Armoy’ as he laid down a new outright lap record of 109.325mph for the County Antrim roads course and claimed a brilliant double victory in the Open Superbike and Race of Legends events on the Milwaukee BMW. The 28-year-old also added a Supersport victory aboard the Powertoolmate Ducati to complete his domination of Ireland's leading National roads event. Todd, who lapped faster than the existing record during qualifying, was a start-to-finish winner in both Superbike races with Phil Crowe (BMW) claiming a brace of runnerup results as Jamie Coward (KTS Steadplan Honda) and Dominic Herbertson (Burrows/RK Racing BMW) took the final podium places. “I lost my crown…

Knowing Ducati's reputation for innovation, one of the features we were expecting to see on the seventh generation Panigale was a MotoGP-inspired seamless-shift gearbox – which would've made the Bologna firm the first factory to bring the tech to road bikes. MCN asked Ducati's R&D boss, Vincenzo De Silvio whether it was ever a consideration. “Yes, we have been working on it, for a few years,” he told MCN. “We are investigating the idea, and looking at possible solutions. “We are not ready yet to disclose anything, but I can say that we are very, very interested in that, and we are working on some solutions to release. “We know that it would be, I would say, a very nice feature for a new Panigale…” It is quite possible that…

An air ambulance is offering fundraisers who take part in a bike challenge the chance to win a ride in an historic Royal Navy helicopter. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) have just launched their ‘I did it my way’ fundraising challenge inviting riders to embark on motorcycle journeys throughout August to raise money. The highest fundraiser will win a flight in an historic 1960s Westland Wasp helicopter. Registrations for the event are now open and the first 1000 (including pillions) will receive a limited-edition ‘I did it my way 2024’ embroidered patch. Participants choose their own routes, individually or in groups, and are encouraged to explore favourite roads, visit landmarks, or ride in memory of loved ones. Then, following the conclusion of the challenge, participants and supporters are…

‘Like a big family. I'll definitely be back…’ Record crowds of 94,000 Ducati fans joined together from 86 countries to celebrate the brand at this year's biennial World Ducati Week, held at the Misano World Circuit in Italy from July 26–28. Headlining was Saturday's 10-lap Lenovo Race of Champions, in which 15 of the firm's top racing stars from the worlds of MotoGP, World Superbike and British Superbike each mounted an identical 2025 Panigale V4S in standard trim. The bike had been unveiled just two days earlier – meaning that riders had little to no experience of the all-new machine. Racers including Pecco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Jorge Martin, and Franco Morbidelli came from MotoGP to face off against World Superbikes’ Alvaro Bautista and…

THIS WEEK BEATING BIKE CRIME SAVE OUR BIKES! West Midlands Police have seized two off-road motorcycles as part of an operation in Walsall – and instead of facing the crusher they will be used in projects to encourage safer, legal riding. The bikes were captured on July 14 as part of Op Adhesion, which saw neighbourhood teams in Brownhills and Blakenall working in partnership with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in a fixed-wing plane. Traffic and off-road bike teams from West Midlands Police were also in attendance alongside them. The bikes will now be used in maintenance workshops, to encourage skills in new riders and promote legal motorcycle riding. A third bike was captured during the work for having no insurance, with the owner forced to prove its legality before…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH Yamaha's mega-selling MT-09 naked will be the first machine to come with the option of the company's incoming Y-AMT semi-automatic gear shifting system. The 890cc triple received a hefty update ahead of the 2024 riding season, with freshened-up looks, revised electronics, and a more aggressive riding position. Now Yamaha say Y-AMT has been chosen for its new starring role due to it being focused more on performance riding than practicality. The Japanese brand announced the introduction of Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission) in late June. At the time, it was unknown where it would live in the range, but imagery released at the time confirmed it would be a naked model of some kind. ‘Faster and more efficient than a quickshifter’ Weighing in at a claimed…

Remember Morbidelli? No, not MotoGP star Franco Morbidelli, instead the Italian motorcycle brand founded 1969 that won the 125cc GP title three times between 1975 and 1977, the 250 title in 1977, then morphed into MBA before fleetingly resurfacing with the bonkers 1994 Morbidelli V8. Well, now they're back with this 997cc US-style cruiser, with more set to come to the UK in the future. If you think you've seen it before that's entirely possible. The cruiser was first unveiled as the MBP C1002V at the EICMA trade show in November 2022 before going on sale late last year. They've since appeared for sale more frequently in 2024. MBP, which stands for ‘Moto Bologna Passione’ was founded in 2021 by Keeway Motor, the overseas arm of the vast Chinese QJ…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Mark Goulding and Sue Pulman The ride West coast of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides When to do it June for daylight & hope for the best with the midgies How many miles? 730 (inc ferries) How long do you need? 12 days Tell us about the trip… We have just completed the most amazing adventure on two small 30-yearold Yamaha XT225 Serows. We've completed what we are calling the ‘West Coast 600’ – a loop of the west coast of Scotland and Outer Hebrides. Starting at Mallaig with a ferry to Ardvasar, across Skye and back onto the mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh, then riding around the coast to Ullapool via Applecross, the Bealach na Ba and Torridon. Another ferry to Stornaway, up…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday July 31 BIKE MEETS ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Bike & Burger Night, Northampton, 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ’ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Sycamore Cafe, The Causeway, Great Billing, Northamptonshire 4pm-9pm www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Seaways, Bike Night, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks. 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Chequered Flag Bike Night, Liskeard, Cornwall 7pm Facebook: Chequered Flag SW ■…

Launched 2003, the KTM 950 Adventure was the Austrian off-road specialists’ first bigbore V-twin with the brand previously known mostly for their two- and four-stroke dirt singles. It was based around an all-new, 60-degree, 102bhp motor (20bhp more than the GS), redefined what big bikes were capable of off-road and, though a little brittle and basic, formed the foundation of KTM's new big bike range and success. A 990 Super Duke and Supermoto followed, then a fuel-injected 990 Adventure. It's since grown to 1190 and 1290, become increasingly potent and sophisticated and, in R guise, remains regarded as one of the greatest off-road adventurers of all……

THE MCN SHOWCASE SUMMER SPORTY GLOVES The MCN team go in search of the magic mix of feel and protection 3000 miles ON TEST Alpinestars Supertech gloves £429.99 ● Glove fit and comfort rated ● Design, construction and CE scores rated ● Each pair worn for hundreds of real world miles There are a bewildering array of gloves in Alpinestars’ line-up, but these sit at the very top, just above the GP Tech V2, with a spec and price to match. I'm always a ‘large’ in Astars gloves and these Supertechs are no different. That said, it takes a while for them to bed-in, so it's easy to think they've come up too small. It takes a good few rides for them to ‘give’ but once they do, they fit…

Roadskin Easyrider £49.99 If you're looking for tough, stylish motorcycle gloves I recommend Roadskin's CE Level 1 KP Easyriders. Made from soft but robust cowhide leather, they've got wellplaced mesh sections that are keeping my hands cool on hot summer rides. These gloves feel like a natural extension of my hands, and the tips of the index fingers work well for touchscreen sensitivity. The knuckle armour is rock solid, and the militarygrade palm pad material is designed to resist cuts and scrapes in the event of a spill. Nice to know. Like most leather gloves they're not waterproof, and sizing can be a pain if you've got short fingers like me. Quality Value roadskin.co.uk 1000 miles ON TEST…

I waved goodbye to the surprisingly likeable Ninja 650 a few weeks back to make room for the bike I'll be running for the remainder of 2024: the Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid. And I reckon this one's going to split some opinions… First of all, let me explain why I fancied spending some time with it, because I'm aware it's a bit of a leftfield choice. It's because I think it's interesting engineering, and I'm curious to find out whether this could present a viable solution as governments continue their relentless drive towards cutting tailpipe emissions. On paper it has many of the advantages of an electric bike (admit it: there are some…), including a healthy EV shove at any rpm you like, the facility to run in silence, and…

£3000-£4500 (2003-2005) The first ‘single-pipe’ generation Tuono is a bold and bolshy naked that is also surprisingly practical. With a large and roomy upright riding position, not to mention a small screen, you can cover miles on one in relative comfort and when you reach your destination, the RSV-based chassis over-delivers in bends. A great-handling machine packing a hysterical V-twin. BUYER BEWARE ● Listen for a slipping or squeaking sound on start-up, which hints that the sprag clutch is on its way out. Swapping it will cost you about £300 (if all goes well). ● If the bike is a pig to get into neutral, look at the colour of the clutch fluid. Replacing the fluid and bleeding the system is easy and should be done regularly. ● Swapping the…

Former IoM TT winner and MotoGP tech expert Chatter comes and goes in motorcycle racing, like headlice in the school playground. It's a technical disease, an engineering infestation that plays havoc with lap times, can give riders blurred vision and send engineers a bit crazy. Some riders prefer to call it vibration, but either way it's a tiny thing – a few millimetres of high-frequency resonance between the tyres and the racetrack – that can have huge consequences. Chatter helped Valentino Rossi win the 2004 MotoGP title, his first with Yamaha, because Michelin's super-grippy rear caused Honda's RC211V to chatter like crazy. “The new Michelin doesn't work so well with our bike – we're getting a lot of chatter, which we call ‘the jackhammer’ in the US,” said Honda's Colin…

MCN caught up with BSB star Glenn Irwin, following his outing in the Race of Champions (see page 8) event at this year's World Ducati Week to get the racer's opinion on the newly launched Panigale V4. “The bike is definitely more forgiving now and it turns in incredibly well too,” said Irwin, whose regular ride is the Hager PBM Ducati V4 R in British Superbikes. “The chassis is much more compliant and that's made a big difference to the edge grip. It's an area we've always wanted to improve and now it's there. “I wouldn't say it was a problem with the bike before, but it was the Panigale's main weakness and Ducati have fixed that with the new bike, but they haven't lost the strength because the drive…

More than £1million worth of classic bikes were sold at a UK auction, with bids coming in from around the world. Taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum, the H&H Classics sale lined up more than 200 lots, of which around 85% sold, with Vincents pulling in the biggest cash. Highlights from the bidding include the sale of a matching-numbers 1952 Vincent Black Shadow Series C which fetched £46,000, the auction's highest price. H&H are set to host their final motorcycle event of the year once again at the National Motorcycle Museum on Wednesday, October 30. Head to handh.co.uk for the sales catalogue.…

Daredevil Jonny Davies has announced the date and location for when he intends to break the world record for fastest speed being dragged behind a motorcycle. Already a two-time Guinness World record holder, he will attempt to add to his tally of accolades using a supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, which has been modified to include a secondary throttle to the rear. With Davies skating on titanium boots, the record attempt will take place at Elvington Airfield on Sunday, August 18 as part of the Ultimate Supercar event taking place that day, with big screens set to show the record bid around the venue. “The event looks mega,” an enthusiastic Davies told MCN. “I was open-minded at first and looking for alternative venues because I was worried that the area…

‘Water is produced – like a humidifier on wheels’ Kawasaki made history at Suzuka when they demonstrated their hydrogen powered prototype machine in action – it was proof that the bike works, but many still question the viability of H2 as a fuel. The bike uses an engine based on the 998cc four-cylinder Ninja H2. It's been adapted to allow direct injection of hydrogen and is housed in a modified chassis from the Ninja H2 SX sports-tourer. In a video released by Kawasaki, the prototype can be seen filling up at a special hydrogen filling station as well as riding on track. Rollout of any future hydrogen models will rely on the availability of this infrastructure, with the newly elected government already saying they want end of the sale of…

GasGas, who are now owned by Austria's Pierer Mobility Group, are continuing their comeback with this – a virtually all-new 85cc motocrosser aimed at budding 11-15-year-old racers. Called the MC85, the singlecylinder two-stroke has undergone an almost total makeover which includes an all-new frame, updated engine, new rear shock, and smart all-red bodywork. The result, the firm say, is “a super-fun dirt bike that's easy to ride fast for guaranteed good times!” The frame has been designed to make the bike easier to ride and is said to improve stability while creating a lighter feel through turns. Meanwhile, the engine has a new cylinder head, ignition, exhaust, spark plug, airbox, and Keihn carb settings for greater low to midrange power and torque. ‘A fun dirt bike that's easy to ride…

Portuguese brand Nexx have launched a new intercom system, designed to slot neatly into a range of adventure, touring and street kit. Called the X-Com3 Pro Bluetooth Intercom, prices start at £339.98 including VAT. The system is compatible with the X.WED3 adventure helmet, X.WST3 street design, Y.100R full-face, and Y100 touring helmet options. If you're in the market for any of these lids, then Nexx are offering a discount of £56.54 off the intercom system if you buy both the helmet and the intercom at the same time. Built in collaboration with Sena, the tech features a pair of Harman Kardon speakers and enables connectivity with up to 24 other riders (if you're that popular). Combining Mesh Intercom and Bluetooth, the Mesh system lets you speak to the greatest number…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com My 80cc YG1 Yamaha (TTA 49H) bought for £55 in 1974 which I loved after suffering a Raleigh Runabout. Simon Heath Me aged 17 in 1963 with my 350 BSA with a Triumph Tiger 100 engine. Still riding at age 79 with a Kawasaki SX. John Turner This is me (left) at 16 with my Suzuki X1 and my brother with his Kawasaki KX250, the year was 1983. Clive Davis My grandson Chester on his first electric bike! He does prefer my Triumph Trident! Adrian Powell This is me in Scotland in 1978 on the way to the Isle of Skye from Newcastle upon Tyne. Russell Frank My very first bike – a 49cc Puch Maxi – a 16th birthday present. I thought…

August 1 Day of Champions Tickets start from £25 with a range of packages available for the pre-British MotoGP charity Silverstone spectactular. www.twowheelsforlife.org/day-of-champions August 4 Leather and Lace Bike Show Leather and Lace (Bridgwater TA7 9EW) are gearing up to host a motorcycle show this Sunday. leatherandlacebarandgrill.com August 3-8 Barbers Ride Combining a love of biking and barbering all in the name of charity, BarbersRide 2024 will head through the Netherlands and Germany this year. Join the full ride, just a leg, or donate. barbersride.com August 3-4 Festival of Wheels Get to Trinity Park in Ipswich (IP3 8UH) for a fun-fuelled weekend of motorcycles, cars and monster trucks. You'll save a load if you book in advance. www.motorshowevents.com…

‘BMW did well out of us!’ At the time of their departure, the Long Way Round duo were naturally full of praise for the GSA with actor Ewan McGregor telling MCN: “We chose BMWs because they're the only bikes that have been built for the job. It's a 25,000-mile trip over three-and-a-half months, averaging 250 miles a day, so it's all about being able to do as much distance as possible. And the BMWs are just so solid, comfortable and easy to ride and work on. They've got a 300-mile tank range – and that was one of our major concerns for travelling around places like Mongolia.” The truth, however, was slightly different. Those who've viewed the first episode may remember the pair – and particularly more experienced off-roader Charley…

Who are Andy and Alissa? Andy and Alissa left the UK on January 1, 2018, to motorcycle round the world indefinitely. You can follow their amazing adventures on madornomad.com ‘We leave the heat and ride head-first into a torrential storm’ ‘Get back on your bike. Now!” It's the first time we've been shouted at since school. The US border guards are not happy with us - or anything we say - for no apparent reason. So, like schoolkids, we think ‘whatever,’ we're not that interested in riding through the States anyway. We had just ridden through Canada, which we loved, and are excited about Mexico - the States would just be a quick transit between the two. With 45°C heat, we're sweaty, scorned and now only mildly excited about entering…

Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon V2 £89.99 Finding the right kit means achieving that perfect balance between protection, comfort and ventilation. The SMX-2 gloves do a good job of ticking those boxes thanks to mesh on the top of the three inside fingers as well as the outside of the thumb and the back of the hand. In terms of protection, they're fully loaded with leather fingers, a reinforced suede palm and carbon knuckle protection. In terms of comfort there's pre-curved fingers and an adjustable cuff. They're touchscreen compatible with the thumb and index finger activating screens. I would advise trying them on before buying as I've found them to come up small. I consistently wear XL in all Alpinestars gloves, but these gloves in XL are uncomfortably small. 650 miles…

It's been an up and down ride so far on the new Suzuki GSX-S. First impressions were good; I fell in love with the old-school inline four and was impressed with the comfort and neutral riding position. Then as the miles ticked by I started to focus on the niggles such as the crude electronics and cruise control, the difficult-to-adjust screen and subsequent wind noise; I even got bothered by the fact there was no cubbyhole or compartment to put my toll ticket on a trip through France! Now I'm glad to say I've come back round to what's good about the GSX and I'm enjoying riding it again. There are a few reasons for this, the first has to be the improved weather, which makes riding any bike a…

£3500-£6000 (2003-2010) Designed by Erik Buell, the Lightning has loads of talking points such as its fuel in frame/oil in swingarm design and rim-mounted brake disc. It rides really well – if a little quirkily. As long as you don't rush the gearbox (it's a modified Harley Sportster engine), the Buell is quick enough to be fun and its looks sure stand out but parts are rare and reliability isn't great. BUYER BEWARE ● All XB Buells eat rear wheel bearings (swapping the tensioner helps reduce this), so check for play. ● There is an oil pump drive gear mod that needs to be completed as if it hasn't been done, the gear can fail, leading to disaster. Post-2006 models had it as standard. ● The reason Buells snap their…

£3500-£5500 (2005-2008) Effectively a pimped-up Monster 800, the S2R (‘2’ because it has the two-valve head) features the S4R model's single-sided swingarm as well as the firm's APTC clutch, which reduces the lever effort, and twin-stacked high-level pipes. It's a beautifully balanced bike to ride with enough power to be fun, and the Monster is fairly cheap to service, reliable and great-looking. BUYER BEWARE ● The finish on the motor is pretty poor and flaking paint is a common complaint. Check around the clutch slave cylinder because these weep, leading to damage to the paint. ● Inspect the wires leading into the starter motor (under the front cylinder). They corrode and often break, requiring a new starter. ● Ensure the eccentric adjuster on the swingarm moves freely (ask the seller…

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW From 2013 until 2019 Marc Marquez won six MotoGP World Championships and 56 MotoGP races. Then a horrifying crash at the opening round of the 2020 season changed his life. Instead of being on and off the podium he was in and out of hospital. But times have changed… And this time it's for the better. By saying goodbye to a multimillion deal with Honda and jumping in at the deep end on a year-old Gresini Racing Ducati, Marquez hoped for a new lease of life, and it worked. Watching him dance on the podium after finishing second in the Spanish Grand Prix was confirmation that the 31-year-old was not only back, but also enjoying racing once again. And with a two-year deal as a factory Ducati rider…

Mike Browne was the only rider to inflict defeat on Davey Todd at Armoy, as the Cork rider's 2024 run of road racing success that produced a maiden victory at the Southern 100 ahead of Michael Dunlop plus podium finishes at the North West 200 and TT continued. Browne led Todd home in a wet Supersport race at Armoy during Thursday evening aboard the Russell Racing/BPE Yamaha and then went on to take a brace of runner-up finishes behind Jamie Coward in the Supertwins races on his Aprilia RS660. But the 32-year-old was frustrated with the Aprilia RSV4 superbike he raced to sixth in the Open race and retired on the penultimate lap of the feature event. “The twin is fine but we just can't get the big bike set…